Which place is cheaper, Palm Springs or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Palm Springs?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Palm Springs, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Kingston or Palm Springs?
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a desert resort town located about two hours east of Los Angeles, most famously known as Hollywood's playground, where stars and starlets could escape for rest and relaxation but still be close enough to return for impromptu work.
It's no wonder that Palm Springs is increasingly popular as a weekend getaway for special occasions, and even for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Closer than the typical Las Vegas weekend for Southern California residents, Palm Springs provides a desert getaway with endless possibilities of activities, whether visitors want to gamble, shop, hike, or wander through an art gallery.
Climate in the high-desert is generally warm with highs in the 100s during the hot and dry summers, and lows in the mid 40s in the winter months, with sparse rainfall. However, if you're visiting during winter, be sure to pack versatile attire and layers as the days may be warm, but the nights in the low desert can get chilly enough to convince you to change into long pants.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Palm Springs $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Palm Springs is $206. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Kingston and Palm Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Palm Springs $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Palm Springs $240
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Palm Springs
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Palm Springs? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kingston Hotel Prices and Palm Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Palm Springs $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
- Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
- Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Kingston Hotels to Montego Bay Cruise Port: $118
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palm Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Palm Springs:
- Desert Hot Springs to Palm Springs Airport Departure Transfer: $87
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to Desert Hot Springs Private Transfer: $87
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to INDIAN WELLS - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $162
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to LA QUINTA/INDIO - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to LOS ANGELES - Arrival Private Transfer: $171
- Palm Springs Airport PSP to Snow Summit-Arrival Private Transfer: $131
- Palm Springs Airport to Desert Hot Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $175
- Palm Springs Airport to Snow Summit - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $262
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to ONTARIO - Arrival Private Transfer: $105
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to SANTA ANA - Arrival Private Transfer: $128
- Private Airport Transfer in Palm Springs: $195
- Private Transfer from PSP to Palm Desert / Indian Wells: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Palm Springs?
Prices for flights to both Palm Springs and Kingston change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKingston $27Palm Springs $53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Palm Springs $29
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
- Montego Bay: All inclusive tours: $30
- Cannabis Shopping Tour with Lunch: $50
- Ocho Rios Shore Excursion: Bus Tour of Ocho Rios, Fern Gully and Turtle Beach: $62
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
- Tour a Jamaican Farm: $70
- Kingston Half Day Community and Art Tour: $70
- Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $72
- Shared Tour: Irie Blue Hole & Secret Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $73
- Friday Evening Kingston Harbour Cruise, Sunday Beach Cruise or Charter Our Boats: $75
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $81
Tours and Activities in Palm Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Palm Springs are as follows:
- Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $12
- Journey into Joshua Tree: Audio Tour + Free Locals Guide!: $12
- Self-Guided Audio Tour Joshua Tree: $13
- Joshua Tree National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Palm Springs Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- City and Desert App-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Death Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $17
- Palm Springs and Joshua Tree Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle: $25
- Private 1-Hour Archery Experience around Joshua Tree National Park.: $28
- Self-Driving Windmill Tour: $30
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Admission Ticket: $30
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Palm Springs $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Palm Springs, we can see that Palm Springs is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Palm Springs is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kingston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kingston and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Palm Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palm Springs than you might in Kingston.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Palm Springs Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Palm Springs?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Palm Springs. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Palm Springs, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Kingston or Palm Springs?
Palm Springs has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kingston experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kingston or Palm Springs in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Palm Springs. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Palm Springs because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kingston is a little warmer than Palm Springs. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Palm Springs averages at about 73°F (23°C).
In July, Kingston usually receives more rain than Palm Springs. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Palm Springs 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Palm Springs in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Palm Springs. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Palm Springs this time of year.
In October, Kingston is generally a little warmer than Palm Springs. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Palm Springs fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Palm Springs. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Palm Springs 69°F (20°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Palm Springs in the Winter?
Both Palm Springs and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Palm Springs for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Kingston is much warmer than Palm Springs in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Palm Springs fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Palm Springs. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 2 inches (52 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Palm Springs 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Palm Springs in the Spring?
Both Palm Springs and Kingston during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than Palm Springs. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Palm Springs averages at about 62°F (17°C).
Kingston usually gets more rain in April than Palm Springs. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 0.9 inches (24 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Palm Springs 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for Palm Springs and Kingston
| Kingston | Palm Springs | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.